The counterfeited motor oil was produced and processed in four abandoned industrial buildings in the Moskow region. In the hidden factories, the counterfeiters filled low-quality oil purchased in Belarus into authentic-looking plastic canisters bearing recognised brand names.
The pirated brands included oil companies such as Castrol, Mobil, Shell, and Total as well as automobile manufacturers including BMW, Ford, General Motors, Mazda, Nissan, Toyota, and Volkswagen. According to information provided by the Russian authorities, the counterfeiters earned some 164 million US dollars (approx. 150 million euros) with their illegal activities each year. The counterfeiters employed illegal immigrants without Russian work permits.
